Can topper



Nov. 18, 1952 PLUSKA 2,618,054

CAN TOPPER Filed July 12, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET l I I INVENTOR; By T/zeoa'o/ e Z'Plusfia Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITJE D" STATES PATENT OFFICE 'CAN'TOPPER" v Theodore'FnPluska, Chicago, In, Application July 1 2', 1950, Serial No;'173,'275

This-invention relates to a can topper. "An object of the invention is to provide an efficient device for removing the top of a can by cutting around the side of a can near its top, whereby the top of the can is prevented from falling into the can, and'leaving the contents of the can free to be removed from thecan.

"Another object of thein'vention is to provide eificient lever and link means'for holding the pressure disc firmly against a portion of the top of a can while'the cuttingaction is taking place.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the device.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of the righthand end of the device.

Figure 5 is a view partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section, showing the device in operation, as when cutting off the top of a can.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6, Fig. 5, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the bottom plate.

Figure 8 is an inverted perspective view of the frame.

Referring to the drawings, in which the preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated, I designates the frame of the device, to one end of which is suitably secured a handle 2. A main shaft 3, Fig. 5, is journalled on the frame I, and this shaft is provided on its upper end with a suitable grip 4. On the shaft 3 is positioned a spacing collar 5, and under collar 5 is a roughened or toothed disc 6. This disc 6 is secured to the cutter disc I, the disc 6 and cutter disc I forming a single unit which is fixedly mounted on shaft 3. Therefore, when shaft 3 is rotated, the cutter disc will be operated to cut the side of a can 8. The frame I is provided with a bottom plate 9 that bears against the bottom of said frame. This bottom plate is provided with 2. depending enlarged portion which receives part of the spacing collar 5, Fig. 5. A guide plate II is against the bottom portion of portion I0 and resting against said guide plate I l is a head plate [2. Screws [3 extend through the frame I.

3 Claims; (01. 30+l5 2.. guide plate II and head plate [2, securing the same together.

The frame 1 is provided with a central open'-' ing -Hand it is also provided with inclined tracks I5, on which the pressure disc l6 slides. The bottom 'plate 9 is provided-with a pocket l1, and said pocket is beveled at 18. The pressure disc l6 moves'in pocket I8.

A primary sliding plate It. is positioned above opening l4 and slides'on the top of the casing 1. An auxiliary sliding plate 20 is in opening ill. On the auxiliary sliding plate '20 is secured a stub shaft 2|. O'n-stub shaft 2| is rotatably mounted pressure disc IS. The primary sliding plate 19 and the auxiliary slidin'g plate 20 are connected by means of large screw '2 2.

A bifurcated bracket 23 is secured'by screws? to the right end of frame I. In thebifurcationv of bracket 23 is pivotally mounted at .25 a link 26. V A lever:21.is pivotally. mounted at Z-iton the sliding plate-l9. The-link 26 I and lever 27' are pivotally connected at 29. Therefore, it will be seen that upon operating lever 21, the disc l6 will be operated. In the position shown in Fig. 5, the lever 21 is down in a locking position, with the pressure disc l6 engaging the top of the can 8 and pressing against the sealing edge of the can, while the cutting disc 1 is engaging and cutting the side of the can.

When the lever 21 is raised upwardly, the pressure disc I6 is moved from its clamping position and then the device can be moved off the can.

The device is admirably adapted for removing can tops so that it can be used in the home as coasters. Further, by using this device, the top of the can will not fall into the can, and the contents of the can, such as salmon, cranberry sauce, and the like, will be exposed and removed without necessarily cutting down the side of the food which the can contains. In other words the contents of the can can be more easily removed than if the top were cut around its inside.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of the invention and illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, certain minor changes or alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates during the extensive manufacture of the same, and I, therefore, reserve the right to make such changes or alterations as shall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a can topper, an elongated rectangular main frame, a vertical main shaft extending through said frame adjacent one end thereof, said frame having an opening extending longitudinally of the frame and spaced from its other end, said frame having shoulders at the sides of said opening and inclined downwardly from the end of the opening nearest the main shaft, 2. bottom plate fixed on the under side of the main frame and provided with an opening positioned beneath the frame opening, a primary sliding plate mounted on said frame and covering the opening therein, an auxiliary sliding plate fixed beneath the primary plate and extending into the main frame opening to slide longitudinally thereof and having an inclined bottom face parallel to said shoulders, a stub shaft projecting from said bottom face perpendicular thereto, a pressure disc revolubly and slidably mounted on said stub shaft, 9, toothed disc and cutter disc fixed on said main shaft in opposition to said pressure disc, and means to move said auxiliary plate to and fro in the frame opening.

2. In a can topper, an elongated rectangular main frame, a vertical main shaft extending through said frame adjacent one end thereof, said frame having an opening extending longitudinally of the frame and spaced from its other end, said frame having shoulders at the sides of I said opening and inclined downwardly from the end of the opening nearest the main shaft, a bottom plate fixed on the under side of the main frame and provided with an opening positioned beneath the frame opening, said bottom plate having a thickened end wherethrough said shaft passes, a, primary sliding plate mounted on said frame and covering the opening therein, an auxiliary sliding plate fixed beneath the primary plate and extending into the main frame opening to slide longitudinally thereof and having an inclined bottom face parallel to said shoulders, a. stub shaft projecting from said bottom face perpendicular thereto, a pres sure disc revolubly and slidably mounted on said 40 stub shaft, a toothed disc and cutter disc fixed 4 on said main shaft in opposition to said pressure disc, said toothed disc resting in the recess in the bottom plate and projecting therefrom towards the pressure disc, and means to move said auxiliary plate to and fro in the frame opening. 3. In a can topper, an elongated rectangular main frame, a, vertical main shaft extending through said frame adjacent one end thereof, said frame having an opening extending longitudinally of the frame and spaced from its other end, said frame having shoulders at the sides of said opening and inclined downwardly from the end of the opening nearest the main shaft, a bottom plate fixed on the under side of the main frame and provided with an opening positioned beneath the frame opening, said bottom plate having a thickened end wherethrough said shaft passes, a primary sliding plate mounted on said frame and covering the opening therein, an auxiliary sliding plate fixed beneath the primary plate and extending into the main frame opening to slide longitudinally thereof and having an inclined bottom face parallel to said shoulders, a stub shaft projecting from said bottom face perpendicular thereto, a pressure disc revolubly and slidably mounted on said stub shaft, a toothed disc and cutter disc fixed on said main shaft in opposition to said pressure disc, pivot lugs on said primary sliding plate,

other pivot lugs supported by said frame, and a toggle device connecting the lugs on the plate with the last mentioned lugs.

THEODORE F. PLUSKA.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Von Wolforsdorf Nov. 21,1933

Number 

